Houghton Dairy Lane’s Jimmy McKinney won a thriller 21-20 against M. Robinson (Neville’s Cross) to progress into the quarter-finals, where he will face Herrington Workmen’s Gary Wallace or Owton Lodge’s David Fenwick.

Usworth’s Brian Poulter and George Hackett moved into the last eight of the pairs after a hard-fought 18-17 win over Dairy Lane’s Ken Briscoe, and they next take on Dunston’s Malcolm Johnston.

Houghton’s Ken Briscoe moved into the fours quarter-finals with a 21-12 success against Brian Slinn (Nevilles Cross), and next meets Spennymoor’s Stuart Land, who ended Seaham’s Jimmy McAdoo’s hopes with a 27-11 victory. Whitburn’s Frankie Smith went out 22-13 to Dunston’s Alan Jobling and Marine’s Bobby Graham was pipped 19-18 by Hartlepool’s Harry Dougherty.

Dairy Lane’s Dave Morgan has yet to play Hartlepool’s Danny Ray, while Silksworth’s David Bolt’s tie against Hartlepool’s F. Young has been delayed as Bolt is on international duty in Dublin this weekend.

In the triples, Silksworth’s Michael Laydon, Ian Riches and Billy Ferry beat Houghton’s Dan Todner 18-12 and will play either D. Wright (Seaham) or C. Higgins (Hartlepool) in the quarter-finals.

Silksworth’s Neil Ridley moved into the last eight of the two-bowl singles with a 16-13 win over Sherburn’s Tom Turnbull, while clubmate Phil Dixon narrowly went down 15-14 to Leadgate’s Gary Robson. Usworth’s Brian Poulter had a bye into the quarter-finals.

All the county competition quarter-finals are set to be played over a five-day spell from Thursday to Wednesday, July 10.

H In the George Turley Champion of Champions, Barnes Park’s Kevin Richardson pipped Consett Park’s G. Rockett 21-20 and will play John Whitehead Park’s Bill Shand in the quarter-finals. Dairy Lane’s Jimmy McKinney and Usworth’s Brian Poulter both exited the competition, while Roker Marine’s Pat Thomson takes on Ryhope’s C. Banks this weekend.